EEZ Bench Box 3

The EEZ Bench Box 3 (BB3) provides open-source software and hardware framework for making a new category of modular T&M equipment positioned between entry-level/hobbyist/DIY and professional solutions combining their best features.

The EEZ DIB was inspired by EEZ H24005 programmable power supply project that already attracted many enthusiasts with its feature set, rich user interface, DIY friendliness, and fully open-source software and hardware design. Therefore, the first version of the EEZ BB3 is equipped with modules that provide EEZ H24005 functionalities in the first place and offer increased modularity, capacity, and processing powers.

The EEZ BB3 continues the practice of design in a manner that it can be easily built by DIYers/makers with intermediate skills in soldering, assembling, testing and have a basic understanding of software and firmware installations and uploading. Although it includes a custom-made enclosure, the builder has the freedom to make his/her own enclosure or adopt some general-purpose enclosure of similar dimensions.

Additionally, when the custom enclosure is selected, you can choose to increase the number of peripheral modules by extending its backplane to some higher number.

Thanks to its modular design, the EEZ BB3 based solution can be built gradually in accordance with your own needs and budget. Peripheral modules can have their own processing resources or can be controlled from a master MCU that keeps costs low. The EEZ BB3 can be controlled locally (TFT touchscreen, encoder) or remotely (USB, Ethernet).

Dedicated bootloader control for each module (firmware upload via UART, SPI or I2C)

Low noise Ø80 mm cooling fan with speed control

Remotely controlled by 300+ SCPI commands using the EEZ Studio of similar SCPI controllers

Compact size: 290 (W) x 123 (H) x 240 (D) mm

Building blocks

Fig. 1: EEZ BB3 block diagram

The EEZ BB3 chassis can accept different type of modules regardless of their functionalities (processing, auxiliary power, programmable power source, backplane, etc.). The number of modules is expected to grow over time, and the initial version consists of the following modules: